Pack cart



June 11 1946. H. c. TALBOTT PACK CART Filed April 15, 1944 Patented June 11, 1946,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACK CART Herbert G. Talbott, Seattle, Wash.

Application April 15, 1944, Serial No. 531,214

4 Claims. (01. 280-41) This invention relates to a pack cart of a type adapted to be used as a cart for wheeling a pack over the ground or as a pack frame for carrying a pack on the back.

An object of this invention is to provide a pack carrying device of simple construction that is very quickly and easily convertible from a pack cart to a pack frame and vice versa.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pack carrying device comprisin a pack frame having a pair of wheels connected with one end portion thereof in such a manner that they can be quickly and easily swung from one side to the other of said pack frame without disturbing the packto render the pack carrying device suitable v to be carried on the back or to be wheeled on the ground, depending on the wishes of the user.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pack carrying device constructed in accordance with this invention, showing in full lines the wheels in the position they would occupy when the device is to be used as a cart and showing by dot and dash lines the wheels in the position they would occupy if the device were to be carried on the back and showing a pack secured to the pack carrying device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a smaller scale than the other figures showing this pack carrying device supported on the back of a person with the wheels properl positioned for carrying.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the top side of the pack cart with all except a fragment of the pack removed therefrom, the wheels being properly positioned to adapt the device for use as a cart.

Fig. 4 is an end view taken substantiall on broken line 4-4 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. 5 is a detached view of a handle member with a load carrying sling thereon.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

This pack carrying device comprises a pack frame preferably formed of two side frame members ID and a plurality of cross frame members,

such as cross-members ll, l2 and I3. The cross members H, I2 and I3 extend between the side frame members I!) and are rigidly secured thereto.

A pack I4 is adapted to be secured to the outermost side of the pack frame. One manner of securing the pack to the pack frame is to provide eyelets or gromets l5 in the marginal edge portions of the pack and to provide eye members I6 which are rigid with the side bars i 0 of the pack frame and protrude outwardly therefrom. The gromets l5 are fitted over the eye members l6 and key wires I! are inserted through said eye members to secure the pack to the frame.

Preferably the lowermost cross bar I3 of the pack frame is curved, as shown in Fig. 4, and a relatively wide strap ill of pliable material, such as cotton Webbing, is stretched across said cross bar I3 like the string of a bow and secured to said cross bar l3 at both ends. This strap I8 is adapted to rest on the hips of the user when the pack carrying device is being carried on the back.

The usual straps l9 0n the pack frame are preferably used in carrying the pack and frame. These straps I9 are usuall adjustable, are connected with the upper and lower end portions of the pack frame and pass around the shoulders of the user, as indicated in Fig. 2 when the pack is being carried on the back. When the cart is to be wheeled with the pack on it the straps l9 ma be tucked between the pack and one of the cross members I I or l2.

Two wheels 20 are rotatively mounted On axles 2| formed by out-turned end portions of a wheel carrying bracket 22. The bracket 22 is of approximately U shape. The medial portion of the bracket 22 is pivotally supported in bearing means 23 that is secured to the medial portion of the lowermost cross frame member l3.

Preferably a cross brace 24 is secured to the U shaped axle member 22 near the open end thereof to strengthen said axle member.

Two truss members 25 cooperate in forming the supporting means for the wheels. Each truss member 25 has one end portion rotatively fitted over the end portion of one of the axle members 2| and the other end portion releasably secured to one of the side frame members [0, The releasable means for securin one end portion of each truss member 25 to one of the side members I!) may be a spring window fastener of well known form having a pin 26 that is normally held in an engaged position relative to the russ memhe but which may be quickly and easily retracted to release the truss member 25. To facilitate engaging the end portions of th truss members 25 with the pins 26 from either side of the truck frame the frame members I0 preferably have notches 35 extending inwardly from their outer edges and have metal plates 35 secured to the members l0 and extending across said notches.

A shaft member 28 of U shape serves as a In use, if this device is to be operated as at cart, the wheels 20 are positioned on the under,

or lower side of the pack frame, as shown in Fig. 1, a pack I4 is fastened to the upper side of the pack frame and the shaft member. 28 is extended to suit the user. The device may then be easily pulled or pushed over reasonably level ground or over any ordinary road or trail or pavement. When the user desires to carry the device he will first retract the pinsZB thereby releasing the end portions of the truss links 25 that are connected with the frame bars Iii. He will then swing the axle bracket 22 and wheels 26- past the lower end portion of the pack, without disturbing or removing the' pack, and position them on the other side of the pack as shown by dot and dash lines in Fig, 1 and by fulllines in Fig. 2. He will then re-engage the end portions of the truss links 25 with pins 26. This positions and secures the wheels 2!) on the same side of the pack frame as the pack. Also the user will preferably retract the shaft members 28 to a position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. After this has been done the user may insert his arms through the shoulder straps i9 and position the pack on his back with the shoulder straps passing from the upper portion of the pack frame over his shoulders and thence downwardly and rearwardly underhis arms and down to the lower portion of the pack frame, The lower end portions of the shoulder straps I9 are preferably detachably secured to the lower portion of thepack as by buckles 31,. Fig. 1.

When the wheels are positioned onthe same side of the the pack frame as the pack the lower end portion of the pack will ordinarily occupy a position between the wheels as shown in Fig. 2 and by broken lines in Fig. 1, andmay rest against the wheel carrying bracket 22 so that said bracket 22 thus helps to supportthe pack.

The wheels 29 and mounting means therefor and the shaft member 28 are preferably of light Weight but strong construction and these parts do not add an objectionable amount of weight to the pack frame when the same is being carried. However these parts relieve the user of a great amount ofv labor by making itv possible for said user to'wheel or trundle the pack whenever the road or-trail over which he is traveling is suitable for the wheels to run on. The wheels can be quickly and easily shifted fromone side of the pack frame to the other without disturbing the,

pack on the pack frame.

In some instances it may be desirable, when using this device as a cart, for the user to transport articles in addition to the pack l4 on'said cart. Or it may be desirable to remove the pack M from, the pack frame and transport longer articles, on the cart. To facilitate such use of the cart any suitable supportin means may be placed on the U shaped shaft or handle member 28in such a manner as to extend crosswise between the two side portions of this handle member 23. One supporting means that may be used for this purpose is the canvas sling 3|, shown in Fig. 5. This sling 3| is made with wide enough hems 32 along its edges so that the side portions of the handle 28 can easily be slipped through the tubular passageways formed by these hems when the handle 28 is detached or removed from the cart. Thus the sling 3| ma be quickl v and easily put on or taken off and may be used to help support a load in addition to, or in place of, the pack M. -The foregoing description and accompanying drawing clearly discloses a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that.

such changes in this pack cart may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the fol- I lowingclaims.

2. In pack carrying means, a pack frame 7 adapted to have a pack secured to one side thereof; U shaped axle bracket means pivotally connected with said pack frame near one end portion of said pack frame andswingingly movable from one side to the other of said pack frame; wheels carried by the end portions of said U shaped axle bracket means; and readily releasable strut means swingingly movable with I said wheels from one side to the other of said pack frame to support said U shapedbracket on either side of said pack frame.

3. In pack carrying means, a pack frame adapted to have a pack secured on one side thereof; an approximately U shaped axle bracket having its medial portion pivotally connected with said pack frame near one end of said frame and having outwardl protruding axle members on its end portions, said U shaped axle bracket being swingingly movable from one side to the other of said pack frame; wheels carried on said axle members; two struts each having one end portion pivotally connected, with one of said axle 7 members; and readily releasable. meansiadapted to detachably connect the other end portion of each strut with said pack frame from either side of the pack frame. 7

4. In pack carrying means, a pack frame adapted to have a pack secured to one side thereof; 'wheels swingingly mounted on said pack frame and adapted to be swingingly moved from one side to the other of said pack frame without disturbing a pack on said frame; a U shaped han die member having straight portions'positioned alongside of the sides of said pack frame and said handle having a U shaped end portion connecting said straight side portions and positioned at the rear of said pack frame; clamp means ad-v justably. holding said straight side portions of said handle member; and load supporting, means adapted for attachment to the two straight side portions of said handle member so as. to extend crosswise therebetween. HERBE T LB T?- 

